Spotler Activate offers two main types of personalization: overlay and embedded. Each type has its own application, depending on the desired visibility and placement on your website.
When creating a new personalization, you have the following template options:
Overlay
Overlay personalizations appear on top of your website content. These are designed to immediately grab attention and are often used for short-term, action-oriented messages. Because overlays interrupt the page flow, they should be used sparingly and only when they add clear value.
Examples where overlays work well:
- Newsletter sign-ups for first-time visitors
- Exit intent messages
- Incentives like “100 other people added this item today”
- Re-engagement prompts such as “You left items in your cart”
- Out-of-stock notification forms
When creating an overlay, you can choose from different templates, grouped under themes like Venice and Sydney. These themes are visually different but functionally identical. Below is a screenshot of available overlay templates:
The following template types are available under both Venice and Sydney:
- Overlay: A centered popup, often used for sign-ups or promotions
- Feedback form: A simple form to collect feedback, typically after an interaction
- Toaster: A small notification in a corner of the screen
- Notification bar: A banner across the top or bottom of the screen
Embedded
Embedded personalizations are inserted directly into your website’s structure (DOM). They blend naturally with the content and are ideal when you want the personalization to feel like a native part of your site. They are less intrusive than overlays, but also less attention-grabbing.
Common use cases include:
- Product carousels on the homepage or product pages
- Labels like “Hot”, “New”, or “Popular” on category pages
- Inline messages like “20 people bought this in the last week”
- Newsletter signup forms in the footer
- Out-of-stock notification forms
Below is a screenshot of the available embedded templates in Spotler Activate:
Available template types for embedded personalizations:
- Products: A static block showing one or more recommended products
- Product slider: A carousel of recommended products
- Feedback form: Embedded version of a feedback form
Embedded templates require you to select a placement on your website using a query selector. While Spotler Activate offers an automatic selector, it’s recommended to use a manual selector for more reliable placement.
Avoid embedding into critical areas without fallback
Embedded content becomes part of your site’s structure. If the personalization doesn't load (e.g. due to cookie preferences), make sure the page still looks correct.
Want to customize the look of your personalization? Continue with the next FAQ: How do I style my personalization with CSS?